William Lowndes Calhoun

For other people named William Calhoun, see William Calhoun (disambiguation).

William Lowndes Calhoun
Mayor of Atlanta
In office January 1879 – January 1881
Preceded by	Nedom L. Angier
Succeeded by	James W. English
Personal details
Born	November 23, 1837 Decatur, Georgia, US
Died	November 16, 1908 (aged 69)
Resting place	Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta
Spouse	Mary Jane Oliver Calhoun
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States
Branch/service	Confederate States Army
Years of service	1862-1865
Rank	Captain
Unit	42nd Georgia Infantry Army of Tennessee
Battles/wars	American Civil War Vicksburg Campaign Atlanta Campaign

William Lowndes Calhoun (November 23, 1837 – November 16, 1908) was an American attorney and politician from the state of Georgia who served as the 26th Mayor of Atlanta. A member of the Democratic Party, Calhoun is the first in a string of Democrat mayors that lasts to the present day.

Biography

Calhoun was born in Decatur, Georgia, son of fellow Atlanta mayor James Calhoun. The family moved to Atlanta in 1852 and, at the age of sixteen, William began reading law at his father's firm. He passed the bar in 1857.

In March 1862, Calhoun enlisted in the Confederate States Army and was commissioned as captain of Company K of the 42nd Georgia Infantry. He served in Knoxville, Tennessee, and then in the Vicksburg Campaign, where he and his regiment were surrendered by John C. Pemberton on July 4, 1863. After being exchanged, Calhoun served in the Atlanta Campaign and was wounded at the Battle of Resaca. After his recovery, he served in the Army of Tennessee under General Hood in Tennessee.

Returning to Atlanta after the war, he served in the state legislature from 1872 to 1876 and, following in his late father's footsteps, was elected Mayor of Atlanta in 1879. During his term of service, he inaugurated the city's street paving system.

He left his law practice to serve as judge of the Court of Ordinary of Fulton County from 1881 to 1897.